U.S. Marks 500,000 Coronavirus Deaths, Though New Cases Are Down - Forbes

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Topline

The U.S. surpassed 500,000 registered coronavirus deaths Monday, according to a tracker from Johns Hopkins University, a grim milestone proving how badly the coronavirus pandemic has battered the U.S., though ramped up vaccinations and falling rates of new infections have many experts cautiously optimistic for the future.

Key Facts

With nearly 2.5 million deaths registered worldwide, the U.S. accounts for more than one-in-five confirmed coronavirus fatalities globally, by far the largest share despite making up less than 5% of the world population.

The death toll is the equivalent of every person living in Sacramento or Atlanta, both with populations of about 500,000, dying of coronavirus.

The 500,000 deaths is also roughly the number of American soldiers who died in battle on the Union side during the Civil War, World War I and World War II combined, according to figures from the Department of Veteran Affairs.

However, research suggests the official tally of coronavirus deaths is probably far lower than the number of people actually killed by the virus because of a lack of testing.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predictions, between 30,000 and 59,000 more U.S. coronavirus deaths are projected by March 13.

Crucial Quote

“If you look back historically, we’ve done worse than most any other country, and we’re a highly developed, rich country,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease official, said during an appearance on Good Morning America Monday.

Key Background

Deaths in the U.S. began to drop this week after remaining steadily high for several months amid a winter surge. Vaccination has also picked up across the country, with more than 63 million Americans having received at least one dose, according to the CDC, which translates to nearly one-in-five Americans, though that figure doesn’t account for the double doses required for full immunity against coronavirus.

What To Watch For

President Biden, alongside First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, is expected to lead a moment of silence on Monday evening for the 500,000 people lost to the virus.